Thinkin of training to be a midwife. Am I mad?

[Katherine]

Been feeling really low lately. Stuck at home with 3 kids. I started of doing a degree and even got a PhD (psychology) but then I had my family and now I feel I've been away from things for too long to step back into them. I love being at home but I just feel I need to have some goals for the future. I have 3 kids - 7.5, 6 and 2.5. The youngest will start nursery in September for 2.5 days per weeks. Its hard to explain how I feel but also DH constantly puts pressure on me that I should be earning at some point and I do feel guilty that all the financial pressure is on him.

Trouble is I have no family around who can help out. My degrees sound great but they don't actually qualify me to do anything without further training. Clinical or educational pyschology would both demand 3 more years and are very tough to get into and I'm not sure I want either job anyway. Training for anything else would cost loads of money. Have thought about and dismissed teaching.

I've been thinking about various things this weekend and one thing I keep coming back to is a midwife. The responsiblity of it all scares me silly but I still think this is something I could do. Especailly say a community midwife.

Can anyone give me any tips or advice about training, whats involoved etc. I would probably wait until my youngest started school so another 18 months away but I just feel I need something to move towards. We live in a rural area so practicalitites would be a bit of an issue but it is something that appeals to me based on my own experiences with midwives during my pregnancies and births. What do you reckon?

How about training as a doula (just a thought as an alternative)

hi katherine, i had a place to study midwifery but didn't go as I fell pg with ds!

The course is full time... 37hrs a week, plus when you are on placement you will be required to do shiftwork... so it really is no different to having a full time job.. PLUS your studying and essay writing etc etc

the course is demanding, but obviously infinitely satisfying as well!

It is a 3 year course, but you can do ti part time in some unis

btw it's also very hard to get into. My closest uni offered 22 places, and had over 800 applicants

They like you to have studied in the last 2 years as well.

Hi Katherine - don't know anything about training etc, but wanted to say hi, and sounds a fab idea, and I think you'd be fantastic!

Thanks all. I'm not worried about it being demanding (well obviously I am but I'm not scared of that part). I had 2 of my kids while doing my PhD so I know I can do that side. My academic record is good and I have proved commitment. Just a bit of a family lull. Will that really stand against me? There must be some role out there for me but its not like I have a career I can step back into. All very depressing. Thankyou for your cheering words Tortoishell :)

talk to the Uni(s) of your choice and see what they think.. you ought to be able to speak to the midwifery person who'd be able to tell you if they want you to have more recent experience.

I had the same problem, so did an access course at college, 2 evenings a week. TBH a lot of it was incredibly boring and rather "obvious" as it's mainly aimed at people who don't have the relevant qualifications to get into Uni (ie it's a replacement for a-levels)... but it's only part time and I made some good friends!

btw I think that the rewards you get from the job will outweigh how bloody demanding the course is!

it's a fab career

Good for you!
I want to do this in 2 years when my childminding job ends!

A friend of mine has just started her midwifery course. She is getting paid £6000 per year and all her course fees are paid as well as recieving £1000 a year towards books etc. I think she gets this because she intends to go into the NHS after! Talk to the college or Uni.

bonkerz everyone gets that if they do the diploma course.
you won't get the bursary if you do the degree, but you will be able to get a student loan (which you can't get with the diploma course if you have the bursary)